FR2552749A1 - Device for the automatic filling of bottles, particularly with carbonated liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the automatic filling of bottles with carbonated liquids by the isobarometric method comprising a casing 1 inside of which is located a vent 2 surrounded by a duct 25 delimiting a filling channel 23 connected to a pressurised liquid supply tank. Sleeves 13 and 16 sliding under the action of the bottle provide the pressurising of a gas in the bottle before filling and then the setting of the inside of the bottle to atmospheric pressure after filling. The control of filling by the opening of the valve 3 of the vent is provided by the bottle. This simple device is particularly advantageous for filling plastic bottles.

Description

 The present invention relates to an automatic device for filling bottles, in particular with carbonated liquids, operating according to the isobarometric principle.

 Known devices of this kind generally comprise a pressure vessel containing the liquid to be drawn off, in constant communication with a supply channel of a withdrawal nozzle comprising, in addition to the supply channel, a device for tight junction of the neck of the bottle to be filled with the lower end of said spout, a device for pressurizing the bottle to be filled with gas to bring it to a pressure close to that of the pressure vessel, a vent axially passing through the filling channel, a valve attached to the lower end of the supply channel for controlling the flow of liquid, actuates by the bottle to be filled. The withdrawal spout also has a device for bringing the bottle to atmospheric pressure after filling.

 Furthermore, the known devices are made in such a way that the liquid is in contact with several moving parts as well as with several seals which are difficult to clean and are sources of pollution of the liquids to be drawn off.

I1 is known, by the patent FR 2 370 681 filed in the name of the
Applicant, an automatic device for filling bottles with so-called "flat", non-carbonated liquids, where the liquid supply tube from the withdrawal spout is connected to the channel leading the liquid from the pressure vessel to the withdrawal spout by means of the 'through a deformable sealing bellows, located in the spout.

In this device, the filling channel is not continuous at its lower part because it does not enter the bottle. In addition, the vent is in communication with the filling tank so as to ensure the ascent of the liquid in the tank at the end of filling.

 The Applicant has sought to create a simple bottling device, avoiding pollution of the liquid withdrawn and of the liquid contained in the filling tank, and foolproof, for liquids carbonated by isobarometric method.

 The present invention relates to an automatic device for filling bottles, in particular with carbonated liquids, comprising an envelope inside which is located, coaxially, a supply channel, connected to a pressure vessel for supply in liquid, and formed by a duct surrounding a vent, said vent being connected to a reserve of gas under a pressure equal to that of the supply tank and carrying, at its lower end, a valve for closing the filling channel, the opening and closing of this channel being ensured by the sliding of the conduit, forming the supply channel, under the action of the bottle. In this device according to the invention, the envelope comprises a first recess connected to a pressurized gas source which can communicate with a second chamber by an opening and closing valve provided by a sliding sleeve, outside the duct forming the supply channel, under the effect of the bottle ille, the second recess communicating with the interior of the bottle by at least one orifice, passing through the sleeve, and an annular channel delimited by this sleeve and the duct forming the supply channel.

 This filling device according to the invention, while being simple, enables bottles to be filled with carbohydrate liquids, filling controlled by the bottle to be filled.

 The characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows.

In the annexed drawings given solely by way of example:
- Fig. 1 is a schematic view in elevation of the device
filling according to the invention and a displacement device
of the bottle to be filled;
- Fig. 2 is a view in axial section through a vertical plane of the
filling device according to the invention, in the position of
closing the filling channel, on a larger scale than the
Fig. 1;
- Figs. 3 to 7 are views, in axial section of the rem
pleating, similar to FIG. 2, and representing the device
filling in the different stages of filling the
bottle;
- Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the profile of a cam ensuring the
displacement of the bottle under the filling device according to
the invention.

 According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8, this filling device A of the invention is intended to fill from a tank for supplying liquid under gas pressure, not shown, a bottle B, made of plastic or other material, carried by a gripping arm P gripping the bottle B under its neck C and sliding vertically along an axis YY by a column D on a support E of the filling device A, the sliding of the column D being carried out by a roller device G resting on a cam F.

 According to the present invention, the filling device A, shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 7, is formed by a cylinder 1, of axis XX, vertical, closed at its upper end, and containing a concentric vent 2, a filling channel 23, of axis XX, outside the vent 2, and two sleeves 16 and 13 sliding outside the filling channel 23.

 The cylinder 1 forming the envelope of the filling device has, internally and from bottom to top, four recesses 11, 9, 7 and 6, the recesses 11, 9 and 7 being separated by internal flanges, respectively 10 and 8, each provided with 'a groove, respectively 32 and 30, containing an O-ring seal, respectively 33 and 31. The recesses 11, 9 and 6 are of substantially identical depth while the recess 7 has a shallower depth and is connected with the recess 6 by a shoulder 19a carrying a circular gasket 19 turned upwards.

In the recesses, respectively 6 and 9, open two conduits, respectively 39 and 40, passing radially through the casing 1. The conduit 39 is connected to a source (not shown) of gas supply under a pressure equal to that of the gas of the liquid supply tank and the conduit 40 is directly connected to atmospheric air.

 The vent 2, of axis XX, is connected at its upper end to a reserve of gas under pressure kept constant and equal to the pressure of the gas of the liquid supply tank not shown by means of a conduit 21 radially crossing the upper part of the cylinder 1. This vent 2 protrudes from the lower part of the cylinder 1 and is terminated by a valve 3 having the general shape of an inverted cone. This valve 3 is partly traversed by a cylindrical central channel 43 of axis X-X, in continuity with the event channel 2, and of diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the latter. This channel 43 opens radially outward about halfway up the valve 3 through a channel 29. This valve 3 contains two light ball valves 41 and 42, with diameters greater than that of the channel 43, so that they can shut off. The ball 41 is located at the base of the vent channel 2 while the ball 42, which can float in the liquid, is located at the base of the channel 43 in the channel 29. The diameter of the opening of the channel 29 is smaller the diameter of the ball 42 it contains, the latter is held captive inside thereof. Below the channel 29 is formed an orifice 45, of axis XX, of diameter greater than that of the ball 42, to allow its introduction into the channel 29, this orifice 45 is closed by a plug 5. The valve 3 is provided at its upper periphery with a seal 38.

The supply channel 23 concentric outside the vent tube 2, is formed,
- at its upper part, by a chamber 4, cleaned between the surface
external of the vent 2 - and the internal surface of the casing 1, and
connected, via a conduit 22, crossing radially
the upper part of the casing 1, to the supply tank
filling liquid under pressure;
- by a waterproof bellows 24 coaxial to the vent 2, and of diameter
upper, extending downward the recess 4 on which it is
fixed ;;
- by a sliding supply duct 25 of axis XX, connected to its
upper part of the bellows 24. The internal diameter of this
conduit 25 is greater than the external diameter of the vent 2 and deli
mate with it the lower part of the filling channel.

 This sliding conduit 25, starting at its upper part at the base of the recess 6, has, on its outer surface and at its upper end, an annular groove 36 in which is located a sealing gasket 37. This conduit 25 has approximately its middle, at the recess 9, an external shoulder 26 directed downwards. Below this shoulder 26, the conduit 25 has an external diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the seal 38 of the valve 3 on which it bears.

 The sleeve 16, sliding vertically and coaxial with the axis XX, of external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the flange 8 in leaktight connection with the latter by means of the gasket 31, comprises, in its middle part , an outer flange 17 of diameter less than the internal diameter of the recess 6 of the cylinder 1 but greater than the internal diameter of the recess 7. The flange 17 of the sleeve 16 rests on the seal 19 of the shoulder 19a under the effect of a spring 18 contained in the recess 6. This sleeve 16 has, in its part located at the recess 7, limited by the gasket 19 and the shoulder 8, a series of orifices 20 completely passing through the sleeve 16.

 Above these orifices, the internal diameter of the sleeve 16 is equal to the external diameter of the conduit 25 and is in tight junction with the latter via the sealing gasket 37. From these holes and below these, the internal diameter of the sleeve 16 is greater than the external diameter of the conduit 25 thus providing an annular channel 44 bringing the recesses 9 and 7 into communication. The sleeve 16 ends, at its lower end 27, below the shoulder 26 of conduit 25.

 The sliding sleeve 13, for supporting the bottle during filling, located inside the lower part of the cylinder 1, slides in leaktight manner with the latter by means of the lining 33 carried by the flange 10. The internal diameter of this sleeve 13, greater than the external diameter of the lower part of the filling duct 25 located below the shoulder 26, and less than the external diameter of the upper part of this shoulder 26, housed therewith ci an annular channel 28. The external diameter of the sleeve 13 is at least equal to the internal diameter of the sleeve 16.

 This sleeve 13 is limited in its axial sliding by a flange 14, located in its lower half, of external diameter less than the internal diameter of the recess 11 and greater than the internal diameter of the shoulders 12 and 10 of the cylinder 1. This sleeve 13 carries to its upper part, located in the recess 9, a sealing gasket 34 on which are intended to come to apply the lower end of the sleeve 16 and the shoulder 26 of the filling duct 25, and at its lower part, a gasket seal 35 for supporting the neck of the bottle to be filled. This sleeve 13 is held in the low position by a spring 15 bearing on the base of the shoulder 10 constituting the top of the recess 11 and on the flange 14.

 According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the cam F on which the roller G rests is of a profile defined by four horizontal surfaces a, c, e, g, and four inclined surfaces b, d, f, h.

 The lowest horizontal surface e is connected by two inclined surfaces, respectively d and f, to two intermediate horizontal surfaces, respectively c and g, themselves connected to the horizontal surface a, the highest, by two inclined surfaces , respectively d and h. The flat surface c is located at a level slightly lower than the surface g.

Operation
The operation of the filling device according to the invention, more particularly shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, is controlled by the movements of raising and lowering of the bottle carried out by the gripping arm P and controlled by the roller G moving on the cam F.

Thus, when the roller G is in abutment on the surface e of the cam F, the filling device of the invention is at rest, that is to say in the following position:
- the sliding duct 25 bears on the top of the valve 3 by
through the seal 38;
- the sliding sleeve 16 is in leaktight support by the flange 17
on the shoulder 19a by the seal 19, thus the
chambers 6 and 7 cannot communicate;
- the sliding sleeve 13 is supported on the shoulder 12 by the
flange 14 thanks to the spring 15;
- The top of the sleeve 13, in the recess 9, is not in contact
with the lower end 26 of the sleeve 16, thus the channel
annular 28, the conduit 40 and the recess 9 are open to the
atmospheric pressure.

- the vent 2, in connection, via the conduit 21, with the gas reserve
where there is a gas pressure kept constant and equal to that
existing above the liquid in the supply tank and above
lower than atmospheric pressure, is closed at its base by the
ball 41 which closes the top of channel 43 of valve 3 under the effect
pressure exerted on it, preventing gas under pressure
from the conduit 21 to escape to the atmosphere.

 By mounting the roller G on the surface f of the cam F, the bottle B held by its neck C by the gripping arm P is raised until it is brought into sealed contact with the sealing gasket 35 of the sliding sleeve 13. The continued rise of the arm P causes the sleeve 13 to slide upwards until it comes into tight contact with the lower end 27 of the sleeve 16 by the seal 34. At this stage (FIG. 3), the annular channel 28 is no longer in relation to the recess 9 and the interior of the bottle is therefore no longer in relation to the atmospheric air coming from the channel 40. The further sinking of the neck of the bottle at the inside of the cylinder 1 causes the sliding sleeve 16 to mount and places the recesses 7 and 6 in relation by opening the valve formed by the flange 17 of the sleeve 16 and the seal 19 of the shoulder 19a. When the roller G is on the surface g of the cam F, the gas, under a pressure identical to that prevailing above the supply tank, coming from the gas supply source arriving through the conduit 39 in the recess 6, can then pass into recess 7 and fill the bottle via the orifices 20 of the sleeve 16 and the annular channels 44 and 28 (Fig. 4), the vent 2 being closed by the ball valve 41.

 When the roller G rises on the surface h of the cam F, the sleeves 13 and 16 slide upwards causing the sealing gasket 34 of the sleeve 13 to come into contact with the shoulder 26 of the conduit 25. I1 does not There is then more communication between the recess 7 and the annular channel 28, the pressurization of the bottle is completed. The gas pressure in the bottle is then equal to the pressure prevailing above the liquid contained in the liquid supply tank (Fig. 5).

 The assembly, constituted by the neck of the bottle and the sleeves 13 and 16, continuing its rise, drives the conduit 25 via the shoulder 26 itself in contact with the seal 34 of the sleeve 13 This rise in the conduit 25 frees an annular space 46 at the level of the valve 3 which allows the liquid to flow into the bottle through the filling channel 23 delimited by the conduit 22, the chamber 4, the deformable bellows 24 and the conduit 25. (Fig. 6).

 When the roller G reaches the surface a of the cam F, the flow of the liquid takes place by gravity. The liquid then flows on the walls of the bottle, without contact with the support member of the bottle constituted by the sleeve 13, away from the valve 3.

The gas contained in the bottle is driven by the liquid through the vent channel 2 by lifting the ball 41, the pressure prevailing in the gas reserve in communication with the vent channel 2 by the conduit 21 being less than the pressure exerted by the pressurized liquid contained in the bottle.

 When the level of the liquid in the bottle reaches the ball 42 by the opening of the channel 29 of the valve 3 (Fig. 7), this ball 42, by Archimedes' push, closes the lower end of the channel 43 of the valve 3. This prohibits any possibility for the liquid to rise in the vent 2. The ball 41 falls to the bottom of the vent channel 2 at the upper limit of the channel 43, thus closing the latter, and thus preventing any reflux towards the bottle of the gas located in the vent channel 2. I1 then remains in the bottle a gas pocket at the pressure of the liquid in the bottle. At this stage, the filling is finished.

 When the roller G descends on the surface b of the cam F, the arm P descends causing the sealed support of the conduit 25 on the lining 38 of the valve 3, which stops the supply of liquid.

Then the collar 17 of the sleeve 16 presses on the lining 19 of the cylinder 1, under the effect of the spring 18, the bottle is no longer supplied with gas under pressure. The sleeve 13 separates from the sleeve 16 thus providing a passage between the recess 9 and the annular channel 28 in communication with the bottle. When the roller G is in contact with the surface c of the cam F, the recess 9 being at atmospheric pressure through the channel 40, the pressurized gas located in the bottle above the liquid can then escape by passing through channel 28, the bottle being returned to atmospheric pressure.

 After the roller G descends on the surface d of the cam F, when this roller is in contact with the surface e of the cam F, the gripping arm P can withdraw the bottle from the filling device which is then in the rest position described above. The filling device is then ready to fill another bottle.

 The filling device according to the present invention while being simple allows the filling of bottles with carbonated liquids therefore under pressure, the bottle being put under the pressure of the liquid contained in the filling tank before filling and then decompressed after filling and before removal of the filling device bottle.

 The different operating phases are controlled by the bottle itself. This is possible thanks to the use of the gripping arm P which grips the bottle under its neck, therefore very close to the filling opening of the bottle. This is particularly advantageous for filling plastic bottles whose body is relatively flexible. Indeed, the height of this type of bottle can vary if an effort is exerted on the bottom.

 The position of the gripping arm P is perfectly defined relative to the top of the bottle B and relative to the base of the filling device. The bottle filling control can be carried out precisely by the degree of depression of the neck thereof inside the filling device. As a result, the filling device is simple and does not require any device for compensating for differences in height of the bottles to be filled nor for a position sensor, filling being impossible if there is no bottle applied to the base of the device. In addition, the bottle being raised by its neck, the vertical stability of the latter is ensured.

 Due to the positioning accuracy of the neck of the bottle relative to the filling device, it is possible to use a system with cam F and roller G therefore simple and foolproof for controlling this filling device.

 As fluids can only circulate inside conduits in one direction, there is no risk of backflow of polluted gas or liquid. Indeed, when the bottle is not under pressure, the ball valve 41 prevents the return of gas or liquid contained in the vent 2 itself under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

 Likewise, the ball valve 42 stops the flow of liquid at the end of filling, therefore eliminating any rise in liquid in the filling device.

 As the support member of the bottle is independent of the supply channel and the withdrawn liquid is not in contact with any mobile member or seal, there is no risk of introduction of degraded liquid by fermentation in the bottle.

 Although this type of filling device is particularly advantageous for filling plastic bottles, it can, of course, be used for filling glass bottles or any other material.

Claims (6)

 1.- Device for automatic filling of bottles, in particular with carbonated liquids, comprising an envelope (1) inside which is located, coaxially, a supply channel (23), connected to a pressure vessel of liquid supply, and formed by a conduit (25) surrounding a vent (2), said vent being connected to a reserve of gas under a gas pressure equal to that of the supply tank and carrying at its lower end a valve (3) for closing the filling channel (23), the opening and closing of this channel (23) being ensured by sliding of the conduit (25) under the action of the bottle (B), characterized in that l envelope (1) has a first recess (6) connected to a source of pressurized gas capable of communicating with a second recess (7) by a valve (17-19) with opening and closing ensured by a sliding sleeve (16) the outside of the conduit (25) under the effect of the bottle, the recess (7) communicating with the interior erri of the bottle by at least one orifice (20) passing through the sleeve (16) and an annular channel (44) delimited by this sleeve (16) and the conduit (25).  2.- Device according to claim 1 characterized in that a second sleeve (13) for supporting the bottle, sliding around the conduit (25) below the sleeve (16), providing a channel (28) can s 'sealingly apply to the lower end (27) of the sleeve (16) and ensuring the vertical displacement of said sleeve (16) and the conduit (25).  3.- Device according to claim 2 characterized in that, when the lower end of the sleeve (16) and the upper end of the second sleeve (13) are not in contact, these are located in a recess (9 ) in communication with the atmosphere.  4.- Device according to claims 2 or 3 characterized in that the second sleeve (13) has at its lower end a seal (35) for supporting the bottle and slides in the envelope (1) at l 'against a spring (15) located in a recess (11) of this envelope.  5.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the valve (3) integral with the vent (2) comprises a channel (43-29) connected to the vent (2) and opening out the exterior by a floating ball valve (42).  6.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the valve (3) integral with the vent (2) comprises a channel (43-29) connected to the vent (2) including the upper end forms a seat for a ball valve (41).